Did you know?
Impromptu most often describes things, such as speeches or gatherings, that are not prepared ahead of time but that instead happen spontaneously. An impromptu concert or photoshoot, for example, is conceived and executed in the moment. Impromptu was borrowed—spelling, meaning, and all—from French in the mid-18th century. The French had gotten the word from Latin, from the phrase in promptu, meaning “in readiness.” But the presence of prompt in there is no coincidence: both impromptu and prompt are ultimately derived from the Latin promere, meaning “to bring forth, take out.”
Examples of impromptu in a Sentence
Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025
Bayley and Becky Lynch Segment Grade: B- R-Truth Returns And Cuts His Hair
R-Truth cut an impromptu promo on the announce table.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Nottingham University Hospitals Charity stepped in to help bring their impromptu wedding to life, arranging decorations, food, flowers and a hair stylist for Horton.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 9 June 2025
The impromptu dance party started when Kelce and his brother Jason welcomed Shaquille O’Neal to the podcast.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impromptu
Cite this Entry
“Impromptu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impromptu. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share